Effects of powder and aqueous extracts of Euphorbia hirta on Phelipanche ramosa germination and haustorium initiation

Phelipanche ramosa, a root parasitic weed, is a copious seed producer. A series of laboratory experiments was undertaken to investigate the effects of powder and aqueous extracts from Euphorbia hirta on germination, and haustorium initiation in P. ramosa. P. ramosa seeds conditioned in water and subsequently treated with diluted E. hirta extract (10–25% v/v) displayed considerable germination (47–62%). Increasing extract concentration to 50% or more reduced germination in response to the synthetic germination stimulants GR24 and Nijmegen−i in a concentration dependent manner. P. ramosa germlings treated with diluted Euphorbia extract (10–75% v/v) displayed haustorium initiation comparable to the synthetic haustorium factor 2, 6-dimethoxybenzoquinone (DMBQ) at 20 µM. Euphorbia extract applied during conditioning reduced haustorium initiation in a concentration dependent manner. E. hirta extract or air-dried powder, applied to soil, induced considerable P. ramosa germination. The results indicate th...